Today candidate Chris Kennedy held a political event trying to anoint himself as an ‘outsider’ and fighter against a broken property tax assessment system. But for years as a businessman and private citizen, Chris Kennedy personally hired what he now calls a ‘well connected law firm’ to lower his own home’s property taxes and used that same firm to lower the value on two business projects by nearly $9 million dollars. It’s laughable that millionaire Chris Kennedy is now railing against the exact same system he used to try and save millions.

Illinois’ property tax system needs to change, which is why months ago JB made it clear that he favors a progressive income tax to help the state provide more support to local schools, and bring down local property taxes.

Not to nitpick or anything, but Kennedy didn’t remove any toilets from his house or the Merchandise Mart to lower his property taxes by making them uninhabitable. Kind of a difference there.

* From Sen. Daniel Biss…

“We have to do right by our children and allow local communities the flexibility to meet the needs of their schools. The best way to do that is to be less reliant on property taxes to meet those needs in the first place. We must instead fix the school funding formula and ensure the state meets its obligations to local communities so they can replace property tax dollars directed at schools with much-needed state resources.

“At the same time, Illinois families need property tax relief. The best way to provide Illinois families with the property tax relief they need is to end the shell game between assessors, property tax lawyers and county boards of review. The self-dealing racket they’ve created enriches their bank accounts and campaign coffers, and the rest of us pay the price. We were reminded of how broken the system is by the news that my two ultra-rich opponents in this primary each got six figure tax breaks by using politically connected law firms. It’s not hard to see who this system benefits.”

* And from Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios’ office…

The Cook County Assessor’s Office assesses property and processes appeals with integrity and fairness, based on analysis of sale prices and real estate market conditions.

It is ludicrous to suggest that the Assessor’s Office led by Joseph Berrios treats properties in lower-market areas differently than those in other areas.

No elected official in Cook County has championed equality for minorities more than Assessor Berrios, who is the first Hispanic-American to serve as Assessor and was the first Hispanic-American to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. This Office assesses property, not people. It does so accurately and equally.

*** UPDATE *** Mic drop…

@KennedyforIL Yes Chris—IL property taxes help the rich and hurt the rest of us, so will you return the $130K prop tax break Madigan’s law firm got you?

I believe I read on this site that property tax appeals are successful in Cook 60 to 70 per cent of the time. And even though Rich says not to believe everything I read, if appeals are won 60 to 70 per cent of time doesn’t that mean assessments are wrong 60 to 70 per cent of the time? Maybe Berrios should hire relatives that know what they are doing.

Biss calling Kennedy out… it’s what Rauner wants, Dems taking bites out of each other, highlighting where the weaknesses are… Kennedy… that Crew really needs to understand that while they found a sweet spot, they need to tie up the hypocrisy in the narrative.

They are mostly all rich hypocrites that play the same game with the tax man at every level. They do not want to pay one dime more in taxes than what they think they owe so save us the the BS on progressive taxes as even if they get it passed it will be full of all the normal loop holes that protect those with money. Much like all politicians lip service the truth rarely comes out.

Chris Kennedy was never gonna make it as the “outsider,” and Daniel Biss just proved why - and how easily - it is to kick the legs out from underneath him.

Biss, Pawar and Kennedy all looking for the title “Outsider,” and I think it probably goes to Biss.

Meanwhile, whether you are Biss, Kennedy, or Pritzker….

….if you think you are going to beat Rauner talking about property taxes, the progressive income tax, or tax reform, let me dissuade you.

Any election where the number one issue is taxes, even the one you think you cannot lose — the Democrat is going to lose that race at least six times out of seven.

To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose: a time for war, a time for peace; a time for politics, a time for governing. Now is the time for politics if you are a Democratic candidate for governor, and if they allow themselves to get dragged down into legislating for the next 18 months, it will be grueling for them.

If Dems think candidates taking it easy on each other is somehow better for the ultimate nominee, then I suppose sports teams shouldn’t have training camps and scrimmages to figure out who the starters should be. Test the holes and flaws and see who can respond and step up their game. If they can’t handle it now, they definitely won’t when Rauner starts throwing millions behind negative ads against them. And let’s face it, Rauner’s oppo team will find everything that’s there anyways. This is Illinois politics, not tee ball where we don’t keep score.